Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Canon 2 Section 3
Judges shall, so far as is reasonable, so conduct themselves as to
Integrity minimize the occasions on which it will be necessary for them to be
Integrity is essential not only to the proper discharge of the judicial disqualified from hearing or deciding cases.
office but also to the personal demeanor of judges. Section 4
Section 1 Judges shall not knowingly, while a proceeding is before, or could
Judges shall ensure that not only is their conduct above reproach, but come before, them make any comment that might reasonably be
that it is perceived to be so in the view of a reasonable observer. expected to affect the outcome of such proceeding or impair the
manifest fairness of the process. Nor shall judges make any comment
Section 2 in public or otherwise that might affect the fair trial of any person or
The behavior and conduct of judges must reaffirm the people's faith in issue.
the integrity of the judiciary. Justice musty not merely be done but Section 5
must also be seen to be done.
Judges shall disqualify themselves from participating in any
Section 3 proceedings in which they are unable to decide the matter impartially
Judges should take or initiate appropriate disciplinary measures against or in which it may appear to a reasonable observer that they are unable
lawyers or court personnel for unprofessional conduct of which the to decide the matter impartially. Such proceedings include, but are not
judge may have become aware. limited to, instances where
Canon 3
a. The judge has actual bias or prejudice concerning a party or Propriety and the appearance of propriety are essential to the
personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning performance of all the activities of a judge.
the proceedings;
Section 1
b. The judge previously served as a lawyer or was a material
witness in the matter in controversy; Judges shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in
all of their activities.
c. The judge, or a member of his or her family, has an economic
interest in the outcome of the matter in controversy; Section 2
d. The judge served as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee As a subject of constant public scrutiny, judges must accept personal
or lawyer in the case or matter in controversy, or a former restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary
associate of the judge served as counsel during their citizen and should do so freely and willingly. In particular, judges
association, or the judge or lawyer was a material witness conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with the dignity of the
therein; judicial office.
f. The judge is related by consanguinity or affinity to a party Judges shall, in their personal relations with individual members of the
litigant within the sixth civil degree or to counsel within the legal profession who practice regularly in their court, avoid situations
fourth civil degree; or which might reasonably give rise to the suspicion or appearance of
favoritism or partiality.
g. The judge knows that his or her spouse or child has a financial
interest, as heir, legatee, creditor, fiduciary, or otherwise, in the Section 4
subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or Judges shall not participate in the determination of a case in which any
any other interest that could be substantially affected by the member of their family represents a litigant or is associated in any
outcome of the proceedings; manner with the case.
Section 6 Section 5
A judge disqualified as stated above may, instead of withdrawing from Judges shall not allow the use of their residence by a member of the
the proceeding, disclose on the records the basis of disqualification. If, legal profession to receive clients of the latter or of other members of
based on such disclosure, the parties and lawyers independently of the the legal profession.
judge's participation, all agree in writing that the reason for the
inhibition is immaterial or unsubstantial, the judge may then Section 6
participate in the proceeding. The agreement, signed by all parties and Judges, like any other citizen, are entitled to freedom of expression,
lawyers, shall be incorporated in the record of the proceedings. belief, association and assembly, but in exercising such rights, they
shall always conduct themselves in such a manner as to preserve the
Canon 4 dignity of the judicial office and the impartiality and independence of
the judiciary.
Propriety Section 7
Judges shall inform themselves about their personal fiduciary financial Judges and members of their families shall neither ask for, nor accept,
interests and shall make reasonable efforts to be informed about the any gift, bequest, loan or favor in relation to anything done or to be
financial interests of members of their family. done or omitted to be done by him or her in connection with the
performance of judicial duties.
Section 8
Section 14
Judges shall not use or lend the prestige of the judicial office to
advance their private interests, or those of a member of their family or Judges shall not knowingly permit court staff or others subject to their
of anyone else, nor shall they convey or permit others to convey the influence, direction or authority, to ask for, or accept, any gift, bequest,
impression that anyone is in a special position improperly to influence loan or favor in relation to anything done or to be done or omitted to
them in the performance of judicial duties. be done in connection with their duties or functions.
Section 9 as last updated by OCA Cir. 103-06 (2006) Section 15
Confidential information acquired by judges in their judicial capacity Subject to law and to any legal requirements of public disclosure,
shall not be used or disclosed for any other purpose NOT related to judges may receive a token gift, award or benefit as appropriate to the
their judicial duties. occasion on which it is made provided that such gift, award or benefit
might not reasonably be perceived as intended to influence the judge in
Section 10 the performance of judicial duties or otherwise give rise to an
Subject to the proper performance of judicial duties, judges may: appearance of partiality.
a. Write, lecture, teach and participate in activities concerning the
law, the legal system, the administration of justice or related Canon 5
matters;
b. Appear at a public hearing before an official body concerned
Equality
with matters relating to the law, the legal system, the Ensuring equality of treatment to all before the courts is essential to
administration of justice or related matters; the due performance of the judicial office.
Canon 6 Section 7
Judges shall not engage in conduct incompatible with the diligent
Competence and Diligence discharge of judicial duties.
Competence and diligence are prerequisites to the due performance of
judicial office.
Definitions
Section 1 In this Code, unless the context otherwise permits or requires, the
following meanings shall be attributed to the words used:
The judicial duties of a judge take precedence over all other activities.
"Court staff" includes the personal staff of the judge including law
Section 2
clerks.
Judges shall devote their professional activity to judicial duties, which
"Judge" means any person exercising judicial power, however
include not only the performance of judicial functions and
designated.
responsibilities in court and the making of decisions, but also other
tasks relevant to the judicial office or the court's operations. "Judge's family" includes a judge's spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, and any other relative by consanguinity or affinity
Section 3
within the sixth civil degree, or person who is a companion or
Judges shall take reasonable steps to maintain and enhance their employee of the judge and who lives in the judge's household.
knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for the proper
This Code, which shall hereafter be referred to as the New Code of
performance of judicial duties, taking advantage for this purpose of the
Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary, supersedes the Canons
training and other facilities which should be made available, under
of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial Conduct heretofore applied
judicial control, to judges.
in the Philippines to the extent that the provisions or concepts therein
are embodied in this Code: Provided, however, that in case of
deficiency or absence of specific provisions in this New Code, the
Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial Conduct shall be
applicable in a suppletory character.
This New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary shall
take effect on the first day of June 2004, following its publication not
later than 15 May 2004 in two newspapers of large circulation in the
Philippines to ensure its widest publicity.
Promulgated this 27 day of April 2004.